Pickett ranked 30th or worse among 33 qualifying quarterbacks in yards per attempt (6.2), touchdown rate (1.8%, which is gross) and QB rating (76.7) while failing to score 20 Fantasy points in a game last season. These stats are made uglier when you consider that his receiving corps wasn't that bad and his pass protection graded out slightly better than league average, though his rushing production helped. The hope is Pickett becomes more comfortable in the offense and throws more touchdowns in 2023. It's reasonable to expect more scoring from Diontae Johnson (no TDs in 2022) and Pat Freiermuth (no touchdowns from Pickett in 2022) while also hoping for a breakout second season from George Pickens, who caught four of Pickett's seven scores. Adding Allen Robinson could also help. Pickett might improve, but not to the point where he becomes a weekly must-start. That's why he won't get picked in many seasonal leagues unless you can start multiple passers.
Pickett left Sunday's game against the Cardinals after suffering a right ankle injury and is questionable to return, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Pickett appeared on the Steelers' Week 13 injury report due to discomfort in the same ankle, but he was a full participant in practice Wednesday through Friday. He appeared to aggravate the injury, however, when he took a shot to the ankle on a play near the goal line in the first half. Prior to his exit from the game, Pickett had completed eight of his 11 pass attempts for 75 yards and logged three carries for three yards. Mitch Trubisky took over at quarterback for Pittsburgh after Pickett headed to the locker room for further evaluation.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Starts week with full practice
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Pickett (ankle) was a full practice participant Wednesday.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told Mark Kaboly of The Athletic on Tuesday that Pickett's practice participation might be limited this week as Pittsburgh prepares for a home game against the Cardinals this weekend. Pickett ended up being a full participant for the Steelers' first Week 13 session, and while it's possible his mobility is affected by the ankle issue, there's no concern about the signal-caller missing an upcoming matchup with one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: One To Stash (QB Preview)
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If you have QB concerns and an opening at the end of the roster, Kenny Pickett might be worth the space. He's been abysmal so far, but what if at least some of it actually was Matt Canada's fault? Pickett has Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and a fantastic closing schedule. Let's see how he looks in that first game without Canada.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Limited output in win
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Pickett completed 14 of 23 passes for 126 yards in Sunday's 23-19 win over the Packers. He also rushed four times for 16 yards.
Pickett's production through the air was similar to his new average of merely 120 yards over his last three outings. However, with the Steelers rushing for 205 yards Sunday, his muted impact was enough to help Pittsburgh to another narrow victory. Although he has now gone five straight games without an interception, Pickett's two passing touchdowns over that span evidence his very mild stock.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Plans to play Thursday
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Pickett (ribs) said Tuesday that he intends to play in Thursday's game against the Titans, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Pickett opened Week 9 with a limited listing on Monday's estimated practice report, and he relayed one day later that he did some light throwing in what was yet another walk-through session. He thus appears poised to be listed as a limited participant once again, which will be confirmed when the Steelers post their next injury report later Tuesday.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Limited on practice estimate
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Pickett (ribs) was listed as limited on the Steelers' estimated practice report Monday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Pickett made an early departure from Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Jaguars due to a hard hit that he endured late in the second quarter. He suffered a rib injury as a result, but even with Pittsburgh preparing to host the Titans on a short week Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that "the door is definitively ajar" for Pickett to be available this week. Pickett is considered a "game-time type decision," so his status will be one to monitor closely as Thursday's game draws closer. Mitch Trubisky will be called upon to start if Pickett is unable to suit up.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Game-time decision for Week 9
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Head coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that he's viewing Pickett (ribs) as a game-time decision for Thursday's contest against the Titans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Pickett was forced out of Sunday's 20-10 loss to Jacksonville due to a rib injury, but Tomlin confirms he didn't sustain any structural damage. Tomlin said he will "leave the door ajar" for Pickett to play Thursday, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but that the decision will come down to the quarterback's "ability to throw and his comfort." Mitch Trubisky would be in line to start under center in the event that Pickett isn't able to play with a short window for recovery.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Done for day with rib injury
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Pickett has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Jaguars due to a rib injury.
Pickett sustained the injury when he took a hard hit late in the second quarter and headed to the locker room, but he had been expected to return to the game for the second half, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. However, Mitch Trubisky remained the team's quarterback for the first possession of the third quarter, and after further deliberation, Pittsburgh has chosen to hold Pickett out for the rest of the game. Pickett will finish the Week 8 contest with 10 completions on 16 attempts for 73 yards to go with 10 yards on his lone carry. He'll have limited time to heal up from the injury if he hopes to avoid an absence, as the Steelers are set to face the Titans on Thursday night in Week 9.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Set to face Ravens
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Pickett (knee) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Pickett approached the game without an injury designation after being listed as a full practice participant Thursday and Friday, and it's been confirmed that the QB will play through a bone bruise in his knee that he sustained during Week 4 action. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Pickett began the practice week working with a knee brace but shed that by Thursday. That said, the QB's mobility could be limited to some degree Sunday, with Garafolo suggesting that the Steelers could look to establish the run versus Baltimore with an eye toward avoiding 3rd-and long situations as much as possible.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Practices fully Thursday
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Pickett (knee) was a full practice participant Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Pickett was a limited participant in the Steelers' first Week 5 practice Wednesday after missing the final quarter of this past Sunday's loss to the Texans, but the quarterback's return to a full session Thursday puts him on track to play through a bone bruise in his left knee this Sunday against the Ravens. Barring any setbacks at practice Friday, Pickett seems destined to head into the weekend without an injury designation.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Limited at practice
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Pickett (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Pickett sustained a bone bruise to his left knee during this past Sunday's loss to the Texans, but he said Wednesday that he anticipates playing against the Ravens this weekend. An upgrade to full practice participation Thursday or Friday would confirm Pickett is good to go for Sunday, while a setback or downgrade in practice activity would open the door for Mitch Trubisky to make his first start of the season. Pickett's poor performance through the Steelers' first four games suggests Trubisky could get a look as a starter at some point later this season even if his second-year teammate is able to play through the bone bruise and otherwise stays healthy.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Injury not viewed as season-ending
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Pickett, who is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his left knee Monday, is not believed to have suffered a season-ending injury in Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Steelers won't know the full extent of his injury until they get the results of the MRI, but the second-year quarterback appears to have avoided damage to his ACL. However, Rapoport adds that Pickett is still expected to miss some time, and the Steelers have some concern about the integrity of his MCL and meniscus. After Pickett went down with the injury late in the third quarter, Mitch Trubisky took over the offense and completed three of five pass attempts for 18 yards. Even if Pickett avoids a worst-case scenario with his knee, Trubisky looks like the frontrunner to start Sunday's game against the Ravens, with Mason Rudolph then slotting in as the No. 2 quarterback.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: MRI on tap
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Pickett is slated to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the left knee injury he sustained in Sunday's loss to the Texans, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Per Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site, coach Mike Tomlin noted after the contest that the QB's injury was being evaluated, but at this stage the severity of Pickett's knee issue is unclear. If he's forced to miss any time, Mitch Trubisky is next in line to handle the team's signal-caller duties, with Mason Rudolph in reserve.
Pickett won't return to Sunday's game against the Texans after suffering a left knee injury.
Before his exit, Pickett completed 15 of his 23 passing attempts for 114 yards and an interception while carrying twice for nine yards. Mitch Trubisky will take over at quarterback for the remainder of Sunday's contest and possibly beyond if Pickett's knee injury ends up being anything other than a minor issue.
Pickett finally played a defense that wasn't elite and turned in a 22-point performance. The matchups against the Texans is more complicated, but nowhere close to as difficult as what he saw the first two weeks of the season. Even with those tough matchups, Pickett has shown marked improvement statistically in yards per attempt, yards per game, and touchdown rate. That being said, Dak Prescott is the only guy who was maybe drafted as a starter that I would start Pickett over this week.
Once again there is not a quarterback in my top 15 this week who is also available in even a third of leagues; we'll probably have to wait for the byes for that. I do think we get to see a little more of preseason Kenny Pickett in Week 3 against a Raiders defense that is once again getting gashed by QBs. Las Vegas ranks dead last in both QB knockdown percentage (1.4%) and pressure percentage (10.5%). This is a much better matchup than the 49ers or Browns.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
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Pickett has been one of my biggest draft risers at quarterback. He's looked impressive in the preseason when he completed 13-of-15 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns over three games, and he has excellent weapons with Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers look like they'll trust Pickett more in his sophomore campaign, and he could be a surprise Fantasy option all season. He's a good No. 2 quarterback to stash on your bench if you're looking for upside. Pickett is worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Looks sharp with starters
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Pickett started Friday's preseason opener and logged one offensive drive, completing six of seven pass attempts for 70 yards and a touchdown in a 27-17 exhibition win over Tampa Bay.
Pickett looked to prove the early camp reports of his improved ability to make quick reads from the pocket following a bumpy rookie season. The 2022 first-round pick appeared to be in control of the first unit, dialing up four different receivers before ending the drive with a 33-yard touchdown strike to starting wideout George Pickens. If Pickett can carry this momentum into the regular season, we could see him post some gaudy numbers with the Steelers' talented cast of targets.
Pickett will start Friday's preseason contest against the Buccaneers, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.
Pickett has reportedly showcased an improved ability to read the field early in training camp, and he'll look to carry over that success into preseason action Friday. The second-year quarterback is coming off a rookie season in which he threw for more than 200 passing yards in just four of 13 appearances while turning in a 7:9 TD:INT. He and the Steelers' first-team offense may only handle a series or two in Tampa Bay on Friday.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: Showing improvement early in camp
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Pickett has been making good reads in practice early in training camp, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.
Pickett had an up-and-down rookie season in 2022, completing 63.0 percent of his passes for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing 55 times for 237 yards and three touchdowns. He had some encouraging games but had some inefficient performances and topped 200 passing yards in just four of his 13 games last year. He enters the 2023 campaign as the Steelers' clear starting quarterback and has impressed during training camp, but he'll likely be somewhat limited by offensive coordinator Matt Canada's run-first offense.
